Supply Voltage Circuit for ETIC In-Rush Current Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G-NR wireless communication devices, the rapid changes in supply and offset voltages in envelope tracking integrated circuits (ETICs) lead to excessive in-rush battery current, reducing battery life.
Innovation Solution
A supply voltage circuit that adapts the supply voltage on a per-symbol basis, avoiding simultaneous changes in offset and supply voltages, allowing timely changes in the time-variant ET voltage while reducing in-rush battery current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the supply voltage and offset voltage are increased or decreased simultaneously to enable timely voltage changes, then the response speed of the ET voltage is improved, but the in-rush battery current increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voltage change process by separating the supply voltage adjustment from the offset voltage adjustment. The control circuit determines whether to adjust the supply voltage or offset voltage based on the current state, dividing the single simultaneous adjustment into distinct sequential steps. This segmentation allows voltage changes to occur in controlled phases rather than all at once, reducing peak current demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit performs preliminary determination of the appropriate voltage adjustment strategy before executing the voltage change. By evaluating the current supply voltage and offset voltage states in advance, the control circuit pre-determines which voltage parameter should be adjusted first, ensuring that the system is prepared to make timely voltage changes without causing excessive in-rush current.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the supply voltage is adjusted frequently on a per-symbol basis to reduce in-rush current, then the battery life is prolonged, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit performs multiple functions: it monitors both supply voltage and offset voltage levels, determines the appropriate adjustment strategy, controls the switching between different voltage configurations, and manages the timing of voltage changes. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate circuits into a single control unit, reducing overall system complexity while achieving the goal of extending battery life through per-symbol voltage adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
A supply voltage circuit for reducing in-rush battery current in an envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) is provided. The ETIC includes an ET voltage circuit configured to generate a time-variant ET voltage, which includes an offset voltage, in multiple time intervals based on a supply voltage. In some cases, the offset voltage and the supply voltage may both need to be increased or decreased as the time-variant ET voltage increases or decreases. As the offset voltage and the supply voltage increase or decrease, an excessive in-rush battery current may result in a reduced battery life. In this regard, a supply voltage circuit is configured to help the ETIC to adapt the supply voltage on a per-symbol basis. As a result, it is possible to reduce the in-rush battery current in the ETIC while still allowing the time-variant ET voltage to change in a timely manner.